Anne Reviews: The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison (The Hollows #13)

From Goodreads – Rachel Morgan’s come a long way from the clutzy runner of Dead Witch Walking. She’s faced vampires and werewolves, banshees, witches, and soul-eating demons. She’s crossed worlds, channeled gods, and accepted her place as a day-walking demon. She’s lost friends and lovers and family, and an old enemy has become something much more.

But power demands responsibility, and world-changers must always pay a price. That time is now.

To save Ivy’s soul and the rest of the living vampires, to keep the demonic ever after and our own world from destruction, Rachel Morgan will risk everything.

———-

The Witch with No Name is the thirteenth and final book in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. Since many of my friends have told me I had to read these books and I knew this last book was coming, I read all twelve previous books and did so while hosting a read along on the blog.

*There are some sort of spoilers ahead.*

It was easy to read the books and enjoyable. This review will be somewhat reviewing the series as well as this book, since it is the final book.

The characters felt right and were important to me. I cared about them. I found the world building interesting. We learned as Rachel did, which at times was a little vexing. But it wasn’t boring or overwhelming. I’d still like to know more about the gargoyles.

There were things which would have made the series better for me. I would have liked more humor. Most of the humor was provided by Jenks and Al, making them favorites of mine. I also would have liked more romance. And by romance, I don’t mean sex. I’m all for sex, but I find the intimacy of conversation and time together equally important. I wanted Rachel to have more intimate dialog within her relationships and even her friendships. I would have liked more sharing, perhaps planning or dreaming together. I realize there was always some crisis but this could have been woven into the stories.

In the final adventure, the “bad” elves are back, wanting to rule the world. They want to kill the demons and the undead. They aren’t listening to Trent because he spends lots of time with a demon. Ellasbeth is back, trying to have Trent and the girls. Haven’t we been there, done that already?

Rachel also gets pushed into trying to find a way to save the souls of the dead to save Ivy and the world by the undead. So too much is going on, with more troubles, when I would have liked to see more resolutions and less new problems.
I really feel like Rachel’s role and purpose in this series, with all her own species issues, is to liaison and bring more positive relationships between all the species. So I like the adventures in all the books where Rachel is working together with Jenks, Ivy, Al, Trent and others to reach the solution.

In this book, I do NOT like how Rachel seems to do everything herself, or tries to do everything herself. And she doesn’t seem willing to work so much with others. She also seems to think she is the only one who can be right and make decisions. I found this annoying when it’s felt like her whole deal has always been the working together.

I was also PISSED since Rachel and Trent seemed to be back to thinking and posturing that it would be better if he was with Ellasbeth and the girls. He would have less problems politically and money-wise. Trent just let it go that way through most of the book. After the last book, I was sure they were going to have their relationship and be open about it. This was a major setback to me and meant there weren’t the sorts of intimate discussions I wanted. Trent grew back his balls at the end and went back to Rachel but I thought that happened at the end of the last book.

I wanted to know more about both Rachel and Trent’s parents, and what their goals were. I hoped we would learn about the past situation with the demons and the elves, how they became such enemies and created the ever after, along with the breeding issues. Instead we learn about how the undead came to be and lose their souls. Which is interesting but wasn’t exactly on my radar.
Things with David were mostly resolved in the last book. The undead losing their souls is pretty well resolved. Newt really stands up in this book and helps solve the problems. I thought we might learn more about the Rosewood babies.

I’m not sure if Nick is dead; I hope so. I wonder about Jenks’ children, especially Jax. Since demons and elves and even witches are all closely related I have wondered whether Rachel could have Trent’s child, especially since he is involved in various scientific programs. I’m wondering what happened with the faeries in Trent’s garden since we didn’t really hear about them since they moved there. What about Lee? And Alice and Takata?

And what about the men-who-don’t-belong? Who are they? What are their goals? Are they for getting rid of species or do they want them all to get along? I’m not sure why they were ever in the books now.
But even with all the unresolved questions, we learn about the how all our favorite people go forward in their lives and progress. That is satisfying. Rachel and Trent are finally together, but I still wish we got to see more of their relationship and conversations. I’d have preferred more of that and less of Rachel saving the world for the umpteenth time.

I think I must be dense. The Witch with No Name. I don’t understand the title of this book and its meaning.

The Hollows is a great series overall but I found The Witch with No Name was a bit frustrating. I did enjoy the story. Mostly, I hoped all of my questions would be answers, but they weren’t.

4 stars

Giggle worthy quote –

“Trent’s grip tightened at the sudden sound of pixy wings. Hands clasped, we turned as Jenks slipped in through the crack under the door. His dust was a dull silver, and he stopped in shock when he saw us looking at him.
‘You’re up!’ he said, a thread of brighter gold slipping from him. ‘And dressed. Tink’s titties, you were sleeping? Seriously?’”
——-
“’Plan,’ I said, rocking into motion when Trent’s shoes scuffed. How about, let’s go in.’
Jenks’s dust flashed an irate red. ‘Tink’s titties, that’s her plan? Go in?’
Trent shrugged, relaxed on the surface as he pulled the door open. ‘Works for me.’
‘Just like old times,’ Jenks said, cracking his knuckles as he darted in over my head.”

This is one from the previous book, The Undead Pool, Charlotte shared with me during the read-a-long and it is one of my favorites from the whole series –

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you are perfect for each other! You irritate people, and he smooths things out. You have good mojo, and he only thinks he does. You’re broke, and he’s rich. You’ve got those weird feet of yours, and he’s got them cute ears.”

Books in The Hollows series –

Dead Witch Walking
The Good, The Bad and the Undead
Every Witch Way but Dead
A Fistful of Charms
For A Few Demons More
The Outlaw Demon Wails
White Witch, Black Curse
Black Magic Sanction
Pale Demon
A Perfect Blood
Ever After
The Undead Pool
The Witch with No Name

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I also found myself a bit frustrated with this book since it was the end of the series. It seemed like it was only Rachel who kept thinking that she wasn’t a good match for Trent. Trent kept assuring her that he loved her. But they barely had any dialogue! Talk to each other if you love each other! And then with the vampires never listening – so very frustrating! I also found the whole concept of the mystics confusing, so that whole part was difficult to get through. But overall, I liked the series. I liked the epilogue being set so many years in the future. I always like to know what the far future holds for beloved characters!

I, too, thought the plot was bloated with all the vampire AND elf/demon stuff going on. Pretty much everything you said.

One character I felt was missing in the last 2 books, and in the epilogue at the end was Belle. For a few books there they were pushing a Belle/Jenks relationship, then all of a sudden she was mostly references off-page. I didn’t see why Rachel couldn’t just use the big-person spell to extend her life and give her her wings back.

I liked the mystics in the last book, not so much in this one. It got annoying how one chapter Rachel would be at risk of destroying the Goddess in seconds if she didn’t stop, and the next encounter the Goddess was easily destroying Rachel.

In regards to the title, maybe they were running out of viable title choices. Dunno if you know this, but all Hollows titles are Clint Eastwood movies. Four involve the Dollars trilogy.

Dead Man Walking (1995)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966) (Dollars Trilogy #3)
Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) (Dollars Trilogy #1)
For a Few Dollars More (1965) (Dollars Trilogy #2)
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
White Hunter Black Heart (1990)
The Eiger Sanction (1975)
Pale Rider (1985)
A Perfect World (1993)
Hereafter (2010)
The Dead Pool (1988)
Man with No Name (1964-66)(Dollars Trilogy character)

Lizzie – I agree with you I really enjoy the far future knowing how things have settled in over so many years.

Iain – Thanks for your comments. I didn’t know that about the Clint Eastwood movie deal. It makes total sense and of course, I recognized the similarities with some but didn’t realize it was so closely tied. I am with you on both Belle and the mystics.

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I'm Julie and this blog is all about Romance and Urban Fantasy Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Slices of Life and Silly Stuff Too!

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Rating System

I loved, loved, loved this book! I will definitely read it again and recommend it to anyone who will listen!
5 stars with extra lovin'! Not only am I going to re-read this book and recommended it often, but I will most likely cuddle with it a little too!
I loved this book. I will most likely pick it up again someday.
I truly enjoyed this book while I was reading it, but I don't see myself reading it again.
I was disappointed with this book. It was only okay and I skimmed through a few parts.
I really want to find the person who suggested this book and ask them why they thought reading it would be a valuable way to spend my ME time!